The goals of the showcase are to celebrate student research and capstone projects and provide students with an opportunity to gain professional presentation skills, and network with those who connect with them.

Any junior or senior who is completing a capstone, research, or thesis this academic year is invited to prepare a poster and accompanying written abstract summary.

Students who are not juniors or seniors but are collaborating on a group research or capstone project, or are registered for their own capstone course are also welcome to participate.

Student researchers will:

• Develop a poster presenting your work (digital and printed versions)
• Develop a written abstract with your Faculty Research Supervisor which summarizes your project (digital and printed versions)
• Attend and present your work in-person during the Research Showcase

How to register:

To register for inclusion in this event, submit information about your research and poster through this form by Thursday, March 23rd, at 4:30 pm.

Your submission will automatically be sent to Julie Winter, Student Career Advisor who is organizing the event, and the Faculty Research Supervisor who is overseeing and approving your final poster and written abstract.

If you have questions about how to complete the form, please contact Julie Winter at jwinter@northland.edu.

We’re sorry but the deadline for registration has passed.

What to send in:

Students must submit final digital versions of the required documents listed below on or before Monday, April 10th, at 4:30 pm. Failure to submit on time will result in exclusion from presenting.

Your materials must be reviewed and approved by your Faculty Research Supervisor before submitting.

• A JPG version of your professional poster with minimum dimensions of 1600 x 1000 (for the website)
• A PowerPoint version of your professional poster in a horizontal layout 48″ wide by 36″ tall – (for printing).
• A Microsoft Word Document of your written abstract that concisely summarizes your research work and includes your Final Poster Title and your name. (200 – 250 words in length).

If your Faculty Research Supervisor is unable to review and edit, Library Director Julia Waggoner is available to assist, but you must schedule a meeting with her in advance of the submission deadline to receive help. Julia can be reached at: Jwaggoner@northland.edu to set up a meeting.

Finished file format:

Students will save and submit two different versions of their poster. One will be printed on your behalf, and the other is displayed on the website.

Participants are asked to develop posters in PowerPoint, using a horizontal layout, which meets the following requirements.

• JPG file size: 1600 x 1000 pixels (for website)
• PPT file layout: 48 inches wide by 36 inches tall. (for printing)

This year, students will submit their final digital posters to be printed by Professor, Cyndi May, rather than students printing themselves. Please note, your poster will only be printed if it’s formatted correctly. To ensure your file is acceptable, consider emailing the PPT version of your poster to her ahead of the final submission deadline (Monday, April 10th at 4:30 pm) to verify.

Students are also encouraged to utilize Cyndi’s drop-in hours for help:

Thursday, April 6th, 2023 (1 – 4 pm) – Office 138 CSE.
Contact Cyndi directly prior to this date if your availability does not align with these drop-in hours

This is how your poster will be viewed. Click the image to expand the view.

Abstracts should be between 200-250 words. They should be saved as a separate Microsoft Word document, and are not included on the poster. Your faculty research supervisor must review your abstract before you submit it.

Although abstracts vary somewhat by discipline, all abstracts are a succinct summary of a completed work or work in progress. An abstract condenses a larger piece of writing (a thesis, research project, performance, etc.), highlighting its major points and concisely describing the content and scope of the project. For purposes of the Research Showcase, you will need to produce an informative abstract. Your abstract should include the following elements:

• Rationale

  Why should the reader care about the problem/issue you’ve chosen to explore? This section should focus on the importance of your work and the potential impact it might have if successful.

• Problem statement/purpose

  What problem are you trying to solve? What issue did you set out to explore? What do you hope to learn from it?

• Methodology

  How did you go about solving or making progress on the problem? What method did you use to explore you problem (sampling, experimentation, trial and error)? If you did not do a research project, make note here of any theoretical framework or methodological assumptions that underlie what you did.  If in the arts, this section should outline the media and process you used to develop your project.

• Results/findings

  What did you discover/uncover during your research? Your explanation of the significance of your results (completed, unexpected, negative, and partial) is more important than the results themselves. If your research is not completed, this section should list the expected results or outcomes.

• Conclusions/implications

  What are the implications of your findings? How does your work contribute to your field of study?  Are there implications for future work in this area?

Review your work:

• Is it complete—covering all the major parts of the project?
• Is it cohesive—flowing smoothly from start to finish?
• Is it concise—containing no unnecessary words or information?
• Is it clear—remaining readable for all your audiences, even in its abbreviated form?
• Is it correct—grammatically? Visually?

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMALL MAMMAL SPECIES DIVERSITY AND WOODLAND JUMPING MICE

Allison M. DeRose, Emily K. Heald, and Dr. Paula S. Anich

Northland College

April 4, 2013

Abstract:  The Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis) is an old-growth boreal rodent species.  Woodland Jumping Mice play an important role in forest ecosystems because they disperse the spores of fungi that are only found on coniferous tree species.  The distribution of this species in Wisconsin and its interactions with other small mammal species are not well understood.  Prior to 2011, the Woodland Jumping Mouse was represented statewide only by 48 museum specimens.  Due to its perceived rarity, the Woodland Jumping Mouse has been listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This study analyzes the influence of other small mammal species on the presence of Woodland Jumping Mice.  Over a period of 3 months in the summer of 2012, (6,600 trap-nights) we set Sherman-live traps in 14 different sites in Ashland, Bayfield, Price, and Sawyer counties within the Chequamegon National Forest.  We targeted late-succession spruce-fir and hemlock sites in order to locate populations of Woodland Jumping Mice.  We captured 7 definitive Woodland Jumping Mice, one of which was a recapture.  In addition to the target species, we captured 593 animals of 10 species.  We sexed and measured standard morphometrics (mass, total body length, ear length, tail length, hind foot length) for each animal trapped.  We looked for statistically significant relationships between the presence of Woodland Jumping Mice and small mammal species diversity using the program R.  We discovered that Woodland Jumping Mice are associated with sites that have high small mammalian species diversity.  This relationship suggests that the presence of Woodland Jumping Mice at a particular site is an indication of pristine, unfragmented wildlife habitat.

You can see examples of past abstracts on the Honors Day page.

• Video of how to make an academic poster in PowerPoint (Keep in mind, you will need to save your version twice; once as a PPT, and again as a JPEG – rather than a PDF as she suggests)
• You can also download this power point template.
• See the “Example Poster” above. You may also view posters from previous years for more examples (coming soon).

Additional resources to help you write an abstract are available at Dexter Library.

LB 2369 .R87 2006

How to write a successful science thesis: the concise guide for students /  by William E. Russey, Hans F. Ebel, Claus Bliefert.

Q 180.55 .M4 B66 1995

The craft of research / by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams.

Title: A Pilot Study: Variation within DAT1 3’ Untranslated Region and the Significance of Binge Eating Behaviors’ Comorbidity with ADHD Symptoms in a Small Sample
Student: Cleo Haugen
Faculty Advisor: Alissa Hulstrand

Poster

Abstract
A Pilot Study: Variation within DAT1 3’ Untranslated Region and the Significance of Binge Eating Behaviors’ Comorbidity with ADHD Symptoms in a Small Sample
Cleo Haugen

Researchers and healthcare professionals are starting to acknowledge the comorbidity between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder (BED). The underpinnings in their comorbidity may be linked to a dysregulated reward processing system because of a dopaminergic imbalance. Previous studies have examined polymorphisms within dopaminergic genes, discovering a series of tandem repeats in the 3’ untranslated region of DAT1. This gene codes for a dopamine transporter that helps reuptake extracellular dopamine. Previous studies have examined the correlation between the unique number of tandem repeats and psychological phenotypes but have had conflicting results. The current study recruited 11 participants, obtaining two relevant psychological scores: adult ADHD score and BED score. The participants also provided a saliva sample. Their DNA was extracted and the region within DAT1 3’ UTR containing the tandem repeats was amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were visualized on a 5% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel alongside a 50 bp gene ladder. Two alleles were found: 10 repeating units (10R) and 9 repeating units (9R). Subsequently, two genotypes were confirmed amongst the population subset: 10R/10R homozygous and 9R/10R heterozygous. Statistical regressions were applied to the data and there was no significant evidence for any correlation between genotype and psychological score. Future work is needed to make any conclusions, a larger population subset is suggested.

Title: Microbial Source Tracking of Escherichia coli in Ashland City Beaches and Storm Drains
Student: Theo Leifheit
Faculty Advisor: Alissa Hulstrand

Poster

Abstract
Microbial Source Tracking of Escherichia coli in Ashland City Beaches and Storm Drains
Theo Leifheit, Alissa Hulstrand, Paige Penningroth, Bridget R. Thornburg, Matthew Hudson

Tourism accounts for a large percentage of the economy in the Chequamegon Bay region of Wisconsin with Bayfield County alone earning over 52.5 million dollars in visitor spending. Lake Superior is one of the main draws to the area so maintaining healthy public beaches and swimming areas plays an important role in protecting the local tourism industry. Current sampling and testing of beaches allows for detection of fecal contaminates but is unable to determine what is causing the closures. Our experiment introduced a new method, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), to allow for identification of individual species (Human, Dog, Ruminant, and Seagull) to determine their impact on beach health in the city of Ashland Wisconsin. From 2021-2022 during the summer months, samples were collected from 13 sites including storm drains and beaches. These samples were processed and then run through qPCR to determine species’ influence on beach health. Findings indicated that when beach sites were above advisory or closed fecal contamination from seagulls was often detected. The majority of sites would have an increase in contamination after a rain event with the exception of BIOBSN which had human contamination significantly more often when dry. The results suggest possible methods of avian management could reduce the number of advisories and closures for the local beaches and that the BIOBSN stormdrain could have a potential vector of human fecal contamination upstream. Future research could include introducing more species markers or sampling further upstream perpetually contaminated sites.

Title: Plant Watch: 26-year changes in the understory community of north Wisconsin hardwood forest
Student: Isabel Sonora
Faculty Advisor: Sarah Johnson

Poster

Abstract
Plant Watch: 26-year changes in the understory community of north Wisconsin hardwood forest
Isabel M. L. Sonora

Long-term monitoring programs are increasingly relevant to ecologists to detect temporal changes in ecosystems. In 1996, Jim Meeker established the Plant Watch long-term monitoring program to track temporal changes in the understory of late-successional hardwood forests in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. At a subset of sites in the Penokee Hills region of northern Wisconsin, Plant Watch botanists gathered understory percent cover data for five sites annually between 1996-2000, and again in 2022. After a 26-year period, we assessed changes in the understory community of these sites and noted that the sites have not been harvested since prior to 1960s. We identified the presence of deer herbivory and earthworm invasion at all five sites in 2022, with the implementation of a rapid earthworm assessment and a twig aging technique. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination, we found evidence for significant shifts in the groundlayer composition over time and reduced dispersion of plot-to-plot distinctions (beta diversity), reflecting biotic homogenization. While site-level (alpha) diversity, richness, and evenness in 2022 trended lower than some prior years, compositional changes primarily reflect shifts in rank abundance and taxonomic turnover, especially taxa losses. Our study reflects the importance for continued monitoring of the forest herb layer, and to identify and understand the implications of biodiversity changes on related ecosystem functions.

Title: Floristic response of coastal wetland communities after a decade of extreme Lake Superior water-level dynamics
Student: Abigail Stasko
Faculty Advisor: Sarah Johnson

Poster

Abstract
Floristic response of coastal wetland communities after a decade of extreme Lake Superior water-level dynamics
Abigail K. Stasko, Sarah E. Johnson, in collaboration with the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department

Long-term monitoring programs are increasingly relevant to ecologists to detect temporal changes in ecosystems. In 1996, Jim Meeker established the Plant Watch long-term monitoring program to track temporal changes in the understory of late-successional hardwood forests in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. At a subset of sites in the Penokee Hills region of northern Wisconsin, Plant Watch botanists gathered understory percent cover data for five sites annually between 1996-2000, and again in 2022. After a 26-year period, we assessed changes in the understory community of these sites and noted that the sites have not been harvested since prior to 1960s. We identified the presence of deer herbivory and earthworm invasion at all five sites in 2022, with the implementation of a rapid earthworm assessment and a twig aging technique. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination, we found evidence for significant shifts in the groundlayer composition over time and reduced dispersion of plot-to-plot distinctions (beta diversity), reflecting biotic homogenization. While site-level (alpha) diversity, richness, and evenness in 2022 trended lower than some prior years, compositional changes primarily reflect shifts in rank abundance and taxonomic turnover, especially taxa losses. Our study reflects the importance for continued monitoring of the forest herb layer, and to identify and understand the implications of biodiversity changes on related ecosystem functions.

Title: A New Approach to Plastic Recycling: Pressure-Dependent Hydrogenative Depolymerization of Poly(butylene succinate)
Student: Rachel L. Fine, Mary L. Johnson, Dakota S. Stankowski
Faculty Advisor: Nicholas Robertson

Poster

Abstract
A New Approach to Plastic Recycling: Pressure-Dependent Hydrogenative Depolymerization of Poly(butylene succinate)
Rachel L. Fine, Mary L. Johnson, Dakota S. Stankowski

Polymers are long chains of molecules that can be formed naturally as well as synthetically. Synthetic polymers, known more commonly as plastics, present significant environmental challenges due to their resistance to degradation. The very properties that make plastic such a desirable material, such as durability and resistance to corrosion, also make them a challenge to recycle effectively. With the volume of manufactured plastics approaching 500 million tons per year globally, finding new methods of degrading and recycling them is crucial. Here we present a method of recycling plastics by converting them into value-added commodity chemicals, which are traditionally derived from fossil fuels and have many potential applications in synthetic chemistry and industry. We utilized a Ruthenium-based catalyst, RuMACHO-BH, to recycle polybutylene succinate (PBS), a biodegradable polyester, using hydrogenative depolymerization. Our reaction is ideal because it produces a single molecule, which minimizes the need for product purification. Additionally, we can modulate reaction outcome based on hydrogen pressure, with low pressure affording a cyclic lactone (y-butyrolactone), and high pressure affording an alcohol (1,4-butanediol). Both y-butyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol are valuable chemical feedstocks which can serve as building blocks for more complex molecules.

Title: How Climate Change Contributes to Changes in Spring Greenup and Fall Senescence in Northern Midwest Forests
Student: Brianna Hauke
Faculty Advisor: Meghan Salmon-Tumas

Poster

Abstract
How Climate Change Contributes to Changes in Spring Greenup and Fall Senescence in Northern Midwest Forests
Brianna Hauke

Vegetation green-up (start of season or SOS) and fall senescence (end of season or EOS) is influenced by seasonal temperature and moisture changes, which climate change is shifting. This project looks at how SOS and EOS dates has shifted over a thirty-year period from 1984 to 2013, for the Northern Lakes and Forests Level III Ecoregion Using meteorological data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Historical Climatology Network daily (GHCNd) recorded by weather stations within Landsat sidelaps, the chilling degree days (CDD) and growing degree days (GDD) were calculated for 5℃. The Landsat data aligned to 500m MODIS pixels with average SOS and EOS dates come from a dataset from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center. We found that both the average GDD and CDD of the stations had north-south trends with seasonal warming and cooling respectively, and that the Landsat data showed an east-west spring greenup trend with spring happening earlier in the east and later in the west, as well as north-south fall senescence trend where fall comes later in the north and earlier in the south.

Title: Climate Change Impacts on Outdoor Recreation in Wisconsin
Student: Kayla Preisler
Faculty Advisor: Meghan Salmon-Tumas

Poster

Abstract
Climate Change Impacts on Outdoor Recreation in Wisconsin
Kayla Preisler, Meghan Salmon-Tumas, Natalie Chin

Outdoor recreation is a large part of Wisconsin culture, economy, and drawing tourists to the state. Its natural environment supports a large variety of outdoor activities that are becoming vulnerable to climate change. As climate change alters Wisconsin’s ecosystems and natural resources, outdoor recreation is experiencing changes and limitations. This project describes aspects of climate change relevant to popular activities such as ice fishing, skiing, hiking, and camping. We focused our literature review on the prevalence of mild-weather days, freeze-thaw cycles, and snow-making days. Finding a definition for mild-weather days as a range of daily highs at 18 C to 30 C, we discover this puts a limit on activities such as hiking and camping. Summers losing mild-weather days experience a decrease in tourism to Wisconsin National Parks and other hiking and camping locations. The literature review verified that increases in freeze-thaw cycles would cause Wisconsin’s infrastructure to become weaker, and freeze-thaw cycles also rearrange soil particles affecting hiking ground. Due to winter precipitation more likely to fall as rain than snow, the need for snowmaking technology is necessary to keep a ski season. Computing changes in the number of snowmaking days with a threshold of -5 C will demonstrate the changes in a ski season whether it extends the season or adds more limitations. Using ice phenology data, we were able to show a decreasing trend in ice duration on six Wisconsin lakes, which affect ice fishing. With recent studies predicting Wisconsin Great Lakes water level, we will use this research to discover impacts on outdoor recreation. Using the combination of literature review and model outputs, we can further understand how outdoor recreation in Wisconsin will be affected by climate change.

Title: Occupied: Power, Harm, and Solidarity in the 2022 Occupation of the Ponzio Campus Center
Student: Catherine McComas-Bussa
Faculty Advisor: Angela Stroud

Poster

Abstract
Occupied: Power, Harm, and Solidarity in the 2022 Occupation of the Ponzio Campus Center
Catherine McComas-Bussa

In November of 2022, over 70 demonstrators occupied the Ponzio Campus Center of Northland College for four days. This was an act of civil disobedience in response to the college’s failure to change the men’s bathroom sign outside of the Baldwin Commons to a gender-neutral sign (matching the bathroom across from it), and the fines given to students who eventually removed that sign. As a participant in the demonstration and a Climate Justice major, I wanted to better understand this issue as a case study in how social advocacy can help us carve pathways of mutual flourishing amidst crisis. I used tools of autoethnography in conjunction with interviews of people involved in a variety of capacities with the occupation with the aim of both documenting and analyzing what occurred. I investigated the complex ways that power operated in that space and how it continues to operate in and shape our community. While the demonstration emerged from conflict, my research affirms that conflict does not have to be understood to be a sign of a community breaking; it can instead be seen as an act of creation. What was created by this conflict? In short: increased clarity of the harms perpetrated by the College’s culture of surveillance; greater understanding of our flawed mechanisms for communication and accountability; and a profound solidarity among the demonstrators and their allies. My research aims to chronicle not only what transpired during the occupation, but to amplify the hunger that lingers for Northland College to more fully embody its mission. Being attentive to the power, harm, and solidarity that were central to “Occu-Ponz” can help illuminate how we might best move forward, together.

Title: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories: Investigating The Intersection Of Children’s Literature, Queer History And Literary Theory
Student: Liam Knoll
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories: Investigating The Intersection Of Children’s Literature, Queer History And Literary Theory
Liam Knoll

Children’s series, especially those produced formulaically (and even more so those produced for girls), have often been deemed unworthy of scholarly attention when in fact they should be studied for their reflection of American society and its social standards. Nancy Drew books, for example, offer a unique opportunity to study societal values over a long span of time. Even looking at one series in this franchise, the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories (created by the Stratmeyer Syndicate and published from 1930-1978), can tell us what adults thought children should know about the world and how people were expected to act. George Fayne, a long overlooked side character in the Mystery Stories, serves as an example of changing attitudes toward gender nonconformity during the mid 20th century, when historical events, such as the Lavendar Scare, were changing the way people looked at those who did not fit into heteronormative society. Criticized immediately upon her introduction in 1931, George went from the “overly tomboyish clutz” stereotype to the “overly tomboyish clutz whose masculinity sometimes proves useful.” Throughout the series, she is both used and criticized for her deviance which includes dressing in masculine clothing, practicing masculine behaviors (such as policing others and shaming femininity), and having a masculine name. The Mystery Stories were meant to be timeless, instead they serve as time capsules for society’s constantly changing values.

Title: Shakespeare and The Transmasculine Telemachy: Identifying Themes of Transmasculinity and Queerness Through Transgender Rereadings of Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing
Student: Romeo Schiller
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
Shakespeare and The Transmasculine Telemachy: Identifying Themes of Transmasculinity and Queerness Through Transgender Rereadings of Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing
Romeo J. Schiller

Though queer readings have become a mainstay of Shakespeare studies, most papers that have been published on the matter focus on the genderqueer ambiguity of Twelfth Night and As You Like It, centering their arguments around the juxtaposition of clothing or costume with genitals or body. Ultimately, cisgender obsession with the transgender body has severely stunted the discussion of the transgender journey, or odyssey, in literary criticism. This paper’s transgender rereading of the characters of Hamlet from Hamlet and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing attempts to develop a coherent depiction of common themes in the transmasculine experience and an examination of what makes transmasculinity a unique subset of masculinity, as well as crafting an argument that many male characters in fiction can be read as trans, even if they are strongly associated with traditional masculinity or maleness, and that transmasculinity can be identified in classic literature beyond the trope of the cross-dressed pageboy. Concepts from trans theory are discussed and applied to Shakespeare’s work, constructing a distinctly transmasculine understanding of the characters studied. An analysis of agency and its importance in trans readings becomes the central thread of the paper, the ultimate goal of which is to provide scholars with a demonstration of how to perform transgender re-readings of Shakespeare that preserve the agency of the characters examined.

Title: 3D Mapping the Subsurface Extent of the Miller Creek Formation in Ashland County
Student: Anna Haasser
Faculty Advisor: Cait Livsey

Poster

Abstract
3D Mapping the Subsurface Extent of the Miller Creek Formation in Ashland County
Anna Haasser

The last glaciation of the Lake Superior region was around ~20 thousand years ago (kyr). As the ice sheet remained at higher elevations surrounding the Superior Basin, melting at lower altitudes deposited sandy till deposits known as the Copper Falls Formation. Glacial Lake Duluth first appeared ~11 kya and sat in the western portion of the Lake Superior basin. Once the ice sheet surrounded parts of the Superior Basin, clayey till was deposited within Glacial Lake Duluth as lake sediments, creating what is now known as the Miller Creek Formation. The Miller Creek Formation consists of two geologic members, the Hanson Creek Member (~11 kyr) and the Douglas Creek Member (~10 kyr-9.5 kyr), deposited throughout the existence of Glacial Lake Duluth. The presence of lake sediments overlying poorly sorted till sediments resulted in a confined aquifer forming within the Copper Falls Formation. This confined aquifer resides under much of the Superior Basin area. The average depth of the Miller Creek Formation is 114.6 feet deep, with the deepest point 440 feet deep and the shallowest point 4 feet deep. The depth of the Miller Creek Formation varies by location in the study extent. The farther away from Lake Superior, the more interbedded sand layers appear caused by the fluctuating lake level of Glacial Lake Duluth. Based on the well logs, the surficial geology of the Clayton map is not entirely accurate in the location of Miller Creek due to erosive deposits that have buried or covered the top of the Miller Creek Formation. The variability of the Miller Creek depth has implications for the location of future groundwater wells and the overall groundwater storage in this area.

Title: Fear is Female: Augmenting Horror With Hysteria, Patriarchal Neglect, and Gendered Trauma
Student: Ashleigh Wadzinski
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
Fear is Female: Augmenting Horror With Hysteria, Patriarchal Neglect, and Gendered Trauma
Ashleigh Wadzinski, Dr. Erica Hannickel

Through examining the genealogy of hysteria, this paper examines the historical and cultural phenomenon surrounding female psychogenic disorders. This paper then considers the historical precedence of medical sexism, the conceptualization of the hysteria diagnosis through occult, medical, and social lenses, 19th Century gender roles, and cultural works produced within the horror genre to define the narrative trope of the hysterical woman. From this, this paper aims to form a coherent comparison of two fictitious works from the horror genre while addressing the hysterical woman stereotype, any male presence in the narratives and their impacts on the female characters, and how the difficult conceptual history of hysteria remains inherent to contemporary culture and modern diagnostic classification. To conclude, this paper analyzes the inclusion and phenomena of psychogenic disorders as narrative devices, the efficacy of using the supernatural as metaphor for mental illness, any potential harm doing so may cause.

Title: Encounters With The Sacred On The Farm: Cultivating Local Food Practices In The Face Of Agricultural Collapse
Student: Connor DeSpain
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
Encounters With The Sacred On The Farm: Cultivating Local Food Practices In The Face Of Agricultural Collapse
Connor DeSpain

When work consumes all other values, the relationships that sustain us hide in plain sight, and we are left in a place of lack. But hidden in labor is a liberatory factor, that there are kinds of work which can reveal our relationships to us through practice. One such occupation is farming. By ritually providing care to more-than-human communities, we may begin to see the world as deeply relational and engage in the sacred bonds that sustain us. When one takes the time and respect it requires to learn about relationships beyond one’s mode of understanding, they are pulled in the direction of those knowledges, towards the intrinsic right to life of all beinghood. Farming can provide for one’s livelihood the way capitalism requires, but it can be done in conflict with the reductionist epistemology from which that system draws its power. A shift is required if we are to subsist on an abused planet because the violence of industrial agriculture has drained our ecosystems of their ability to freely reproduce life. What once was abundant has been made scarce, and we must now cooperate in the internally organized communities that sustained life on this planet for ages because their fate is inextricably linked to our own. Drawing on the works of Vandana Shiva, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Jonathan Z. Smith, this paper argues that through farming we can change our minds and feed our world, seeing life as having a right to exist for its own sake and building resilient agroecosystems to withstand the shocks of climate chaos.

Title: Seismic Waves for Revolution: Taking Mexico Back by Revitalizing and Empowering its Indigenous Communities
Student: Julio Hernandez
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
Seismic Waves for Revolution: Taking Mexico Back by Revitalizing and Empowering its Indigenous Communities
Julio Hernandez

This essay serves as a manifesto for the oppressed to bring down capitalism and incite anarchy that will lead to the creation of a different world that isn’t anything like the extraction-dependent world of today. A new world can be created through peace with our planet and neighbors. Ideas here are connected to the philosophies that drove the Mexican Revolution; the peasants’ revolution, which fought off the capitalist encroachment of Mexico and years of oppressive Spanish colonization. This work is also inspired by anarchists Emiliano Zapata and Ricardo Flores Magon, two men who fought for Indigenous rights, getting Mexico’s land back, and a better world. The world of people of the past are discussed in order to capture what life was like before Earth became privatized and reality was altered. Culture’s role in current and ancient society is examined and contrasted to see if a community can function by solely interacting with its culture, reproducing it, living connected with its environment and neighbors–one that does not operate under forms of capitalism. The essay ends by detailing six specific methods to revitalize communities. The ultimate goal of this essay serves to highlight that communities of the past were in a better place and are a model we should imitate to create sustainable communities.

Title: The Problem With Fitness in America and Why Americans Need to Re-Evaluate Their Relationship With Exercise
Student: Benjamin Thompson
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
The Problem With Fitness in America and Why Americans Need to Re-Evaluate Their Relationship With Exercise
Benjamin Thompson

Americans are currently going down a dangerous path because of our bad relationship with exercise. According to statistics from researchers at the University of New Mexico, the general physical fitness of Americans has been on the decline since World War II as a result of living a sedentary lifestyle in which we spend most of our day sitting or lying down with little movement. This is a result of good societal progress, far less labor is required to survive today than in the past. However, exercise has become practically optional, even though it is not if we want to fight disease and live healthy lives rather than sick ones. This is a result of spending almost no time moving at our jobs and at schools (where we spend much of our time) and an absurd rise in screen time based on research done by Rebecca Moody, the head of data research at Comparitech, both at school or work and at home. Americans don’t have to depend on exercising to make it through the day, but we must depend on exercise to live a long, healthy life and fight off diseases. It’s unlikely that government policies can solve this problem, it is up to individuals to take matters into their own hands and find solutions to this problem that suit them. Fortunately, there are many modern examples of how we can implement exercise practically into our lives. The solution summed up: more low-intensity exercise, more practical exercise, and more fun exercise.

Title: Transforming a Culture of Domination Over Nature: The Possibilities of Permaculture
Student: Azure Tinkle
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
Transforming a Culture of Domination Over Nature: The Possibilities of Permaculture
Azure Tinkle

As defined by the founder of permaculture, Bill Mollison, in Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual, permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agricultural systems to create diversity, stability, and resilience like natural ecosystems. It encompasses a cultural transformation of society’s relationship to nature by working with natural systems rather than against them. This contrasts with a culture of domination over nature which constitutes industrial agriculture. As described in selections from the compilation, Fatal Harvest the Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture, industrial agriculture has ravaged the land leading to a proliferation of issues such as soil erosion, water pollution, and the loss of small farmers in favor of large monocultures. The exploitation present in this system is the result of a culture of domination over nature, supported by Christianity, and integral to colonization. As demonstrated in “Subsistence Patterns” from the Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History, permaculture integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge to present a solution to the culture of domination over nature and industrial agriculture. Although permaculture falls short of addressing the root cause of the issue within colonization, it presents an alternative in combination with seed sovereignty and food sovereignty. Permaculture involves reforming land management practices to work with nature rather than against it and holds the possibility for a cultural transformation which is crucial for creating a sustainable relationship with the land.

Title: “Anyone who looks for a source of power in the transformation of the atom is talking moonshine”: The search for controlled nuclear fusion
Student: Matthew Alsip
Faculty Advisor: Young Kim

Poster

Abstract
“Anyone who looks for a source of power in the transformation of the atom is talking moonshine”: The search for controlled nuclear fusion
Matthew Alsip

Plasma, the fourth state of matter, possesses properties and potential uses that could alter the course of humanity’s future. With many examples occurring both terrestrially and in the cosmos, harnessing the powers and potentials of plasma have plagued scientists. However, thanks to decades of research and innovation, humanity is nearly at the cusp of this breakthrough. If it were to be achieved, it would fundamentally change our world as we know it. A virtually unlimited and clean energy source would be a welcome ally during the ongoing climate crisis. The future of nuclear fusion wasn’t always this optimistic, however. It took an unexpected individual with a brilliant idea to spur research in plasma. A controversial event spurred more thought into plasma as well. Throughout the following decades, many tests, and trials as well as the work of hundreds of researchers across the world, what was once thought a scientific impossibility could soon become a reality. This project provides an overview of the many examples and definitions of plasma, the history and development of nuclear fusion from the initial stages to the present day and beyond, and a brief analysis of two different nuclear fusion machines: the tokamak and the stellarator.

Title: Quantitative Analysis on the Financial Performance of Two Golf Companies
Student: George Butvilas
Faculty Advisor: Young Kim

Poster

Abstract
Quantitative Analysis on the Financial Performance of Two Golf Companies
George Butvilas

The game of golf is as lively as ever. It is growing due to the Covid-19 pandemic and “441 million rounds of golf were played last year with 14 million millennials interested in playing a game of on-course golf” (LinchPin). Since the recent boom in the golf world, the sales of these respective companies have skyrocketed. The question is, what company, out of the two biggest publicly traded golf companies in the years of 2020 and 2021, is doing the best and why? I am here to figure out with a statistical quantitative analysis. A well-known company in the golf industry, Titleist is known for creating premium golf balls, clubs, and accessories. Titleist has the leading golf ball worldwide in its Pro V1 and Pro V1x. Callaway Golf is another well-known brand in the world of golf, known for its innovative golf clubs, balls, and accessories. Today, Callaway is one of the most recognized and respected brands in golf, and its products are used by golfers of all levels around the world. I will be comparing yearly net sales and revenue of the two companies to compare the two companies and to see why one of the other does better financially. I will be particularly focusing on the years of 2020 and 2021 because of the “golf boom” after the Covid-19 global pandemic. I will conduct multiple univariate analyses for each company and compare each other.

Title: Shrinking violets and other changes in the herb layer of hardwood forests in northern Wisconsin, 1998-2022
Student: Claire Anderson
Faculty Advisor: Sarah Johnson

Poster

Abstract
Shrinking violets and other changes in the herb layer of hardwood forests in northern Wisconsin, 1998-2022
Claire Anderson, Isabel M.L. Sonora, Tyrease T. James, Abigail Stasko, Patrick Zehm, Stephen Spickerman, Steven White, Kathryn M. Miller, Sarah E. Johnson

Long-term monitoring is vital for understanding responses of species to environmental change. The Plant Watch project is a long-term monitoring project in the Penokee Hills. It was established in 1996 by Jim Meeker to monitor change in the often-overlooked herbaceous understory of northern hardwood forests. The project sites were surveyed annually 1996 to 2000 and we returned 22 years later in 2022 to relocate and resurvey 16 sites. All sites were surveyed in spring and summer to include both spring ephemerals and later-developing summer herbs. This study focuses on a subset of five priority sites that have complete survey data. The objectives of this project are to identify understory species that have increased, decreased, or remained stable since 1996, and to analyze community trends through functional-guild groupings. We recorded the identity and percent cover of all vascular plant species and counted tree seedlings present within 80 1m² quadrats. We applied case-bootstrapping to compute 95% confidence intervals to assess significant trends in species and functional guild abundance. There have been significant changes in the forest herb layer in the short span of less than three decades. Significant increases occurred in ferns and allies, graminoids, and woody species and decreases occurred in summer green and some ephemeral species. Indicated drivers of these changes are earthworm invasion and white-tail deer browsing. Large shifts in communities over a such a short period are concerning and require further monitoring and study to understand these changes and inform management efforts.

Title: A Contemporary Forest Inventory and Analysis of the Maxwell Research Property: A Case Study for Tree Species Composition, Carbon Stocks, and Fire Danger
Students: Seth W. Davenport & Tyrease “TJ” James
Faculty Advisor: Jonathan Martin

Poster

Abstract
A Contemporary Forest Inventory and Analysis of the Maxwell Research Property: A Case Study for Tree Species Composition, Carbon Stocks, and Fire Danger
Seth W. Davenport, Tyrease “TJ” James, and Dr. Jonathan G. Martin

The Mabel Cora Maxwell Nature Study Area, colloquially known as the Maxwell Property, has been owned and managed by Northland College since 1983. The original old-growth forest here was logged during the cutover of the late 1800’s, then converted into agricultural land, resulting in a great loss of carbon sequestration and native biodiversity. The parcel was then left mostly undisturbed after it was donated to Northland, allowing natural succession to take place and establish an array habitat types and seral stages across the landscape. In 2021 and 2022, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) techniques developed by the US Forest Service (USFS) were used to gather important measurements on trees, shrubs, coarse woody debris (CWD), fine woody debris (FWD), and organic matter layers (litter and duff). It was found that early successional hardwoods and mid-successional hardwoods comprised the largest portion of species groups across all sampled stands, as opposed to the dominance of late successional conifers pre-cutover. Based on the FWD data, fuel loads are typical and could potentially produce flames 2 feet or more in height during dry conditions, thereby risking a surface fire spreading to the canopy due to ample ladder fuels. An analysis of carbon in all components found a maximum density of 166 MgC/ha, which is approximately half of the biomass carbon density of old-growth remnant forests in northern Michigan.

Title: The Influence of Prior Exposure to Weapons on the Weapon Focus Effect
Students: Alexandria Espinoza, Elysabeth Lough, Ashley Lopez
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Sneyd

Poster

Abstract
The Influence of Prior Exposure to Weapons on the Weapon Focus Effect
Alexandria Espinoza, Elysabeth Lough, Ashley Lopez, and Dr. Danielle Sneyd

The weapon focus effect (WFE) is a phenomenon in which a weapon being present during the commission of a crime will typically make the witness less likely to accurately remember peripheral details about the perpetrator’s appearance compared to when there is no weapon present (Fawcett et al., 2013). In a meta-analysis on the WFE (Fawcett et al., 2013), researchers suggest that a gap in the research includes the perceptions of weapons by the witnesses, more specifically if the witness has experience with or owns firearms. As hunting is a normal extracurricular in Northern Wisconsin, the location of this research makes this an appropriate area to address the gap in the literature. One supported hypothesis for the WFE is that it draws attention because it is unusual in the context (Pickel, 1999). This could suggest that those who are more familiar with firearms (i.e., rifles) would not find the firearm to be as unusual as those who are not familiar with firearms. It is hypothesized that having prior experience or ownership with weapons, specifically rifles, will mitigate the WFE compared to not having prior experience with weapons. Preliminary analyses were run on the first 35 participants. A 2X2 between participant factorial ANOVA was run between Weapon Presence and Gun Ownership on correct details. No significant main effects or interactions were found, and this may be due to the current sample size and/or since the weapon used in the study was not unusual for the context that it was used in.

Title: Play Therapy’s Effect on Children’s Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems
Students: Danielle Hewitt
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Sneyd

Poster

Abstract
Play Therapy’s Effect on Children’s Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems
Danielle Hewitt

Children need mental health interventions for a wide variety of social, emotional, and behavioral problems, but many therapeutic approaches are not appropriate for a child’s developmental stage. Play therapy is an age-appropriate and culturally responsive intervention that uses toys and play instead of words and verbal language to help clients work through their emotions and traumas and gain insights to improve their life. The current research explored play therapy and its effectiveness in treating social, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children. Play therapy is believed to be a particularly beneficial therapeutic intervention for children ages 3-12 because at that age, children view the world concretely. They are limited in their ability to use just words to express complex feelings and thoughts, and instead use play to express themselves. Play allows children to use nonverbal means to connect concrete and abstract thought. Results suggest that play therapy can be an effective intervention for treating children’s social, emotional, and behavioral problems, including mental health disorders such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, and OCD; academic achievement challenges and behavioral struggles in a school setting; and family and relationship issues such as the stresses of divorce, death, and having a loved one in the military. Other findings suggest cases where play therapy can be helpful for infants and adults outside of that age range. Play therapy is an empirically based therapeutic approach that can be used as a primary or adjunctive therapy to treat children’s social, emotional, and behavioral problems.

Title: The Impacts of Locus of Control on Happiness and Well-being
Students: Cole Lizak
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Sneyd

Poster

Abstract
The Impacts of Locus of Control on Happiness and Well-being
Colton Lizak

With the struggles of the modern age every humanitarian wishes for the people of the world to have greater well-being and happiness, but it is not something that is always easily achieved with the difficulties of life. That is precisely why people must take the opportunities they can. One specific aspect that can impact our mental well-being and happiness is an individual’s Locus of Control. The current paper covers a total of 15 peer reviewed experimental articles in an effort to explain this relationship, covering the evidence that Locus of Control has a significant impact on well-being and happiness, as well as other related positive variables. Finally, this will also include evidence that internal locus of control was found to reduce the impact of negative situations. These compiled findings provide ample evidence towards the value of applying methods of teaching, the values and such kids are raised with, and therapy in order to increase internal locus of control and through that increase the well-being and happiness of the population.

Title: Rebuilding the Four Sacred Mountains: An Analysis of Historical Trauma and Community Supports in the Navajo Nation
Student: Cameron Charleston
Faculty Advisor: Angela Stroud

Poster

Abstract
Rebuilding the Four Sacred Mountains: An Analysis of Historical Trauma and Community Supports in the Navajo Nation
Cameron Charleston

The Navajo tribe was once a powerful force in the southwest, with fearless warriors and a thriving community that suited their lifestyle. But mass trauma and organized violence inflicted on the tribe over time disrupted the whole foundation that it was built upon. Major traumatic events such as the Navajo Long Walk, Indian Boarding Schools, and constant disempowerment from the government uprooted the whole social structure of the community, and the effects are still being felt today. In this analysis, I examined historical trauma in the Navajo Nation community and connected the effects of mass trauma to the need for current social resources in the community. Our current system isn’t strong enough to heal the trauma and so the tribe has become stuck in time, unable to move on from the grief and trauma from the past. Social support and community resources have been limited. The only hope for rebuilding the community is social reconstruction and fighting for the survival of the community and culture. A community-based approach that incorporates cultural healing and support and that provides resources and access to mental and physical wellbeing are required to help my tribe heal.

Title: “They’re Not Even Seen as a Person Anymore”: Examining the Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Housing
Student: Cameron Charleston
Faculty Advisor: Taya Streit

Poster

Abstract
“They’re Not Even Seen as a Person Anymore”: Examining the Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Housing
Taya Streit

Affordable housing is crucial to the success of domestic violence survivors. Often, they have to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Many are left without a home, clothes, money, a support system, or even important documents such as birth certificates and social security cards. To dig deeper into the relationship between domestic violence and housing, I interviewed two employees from a local domestic violence advocacy center, completed a literature review of the complex nature of domestic violence, and analyzed trends within the local housing market. Research shows that housing costs in Ashland are rising, and the supply is declining. There are countless barriers for survivors trying to acquire housing, such as lack of income, an eviction record, a criminal record, or general lack of information about community resources. Additionally, survivors are often confronted with biases from community members that limit their housing opportunities. These findings emphasize the importance of accessible and affordable housing for survivors of domestic violence.

Title: Recidivism In The Era of Mass Incarceration: Can Social Workers Make a Difference?
Student: Miranda Wagner
Faculty Advisor: Angela Stroud

Poster

Abstract
Recidivism in the Era of Mass Incarceration: Can Social Workers Make A difference?
Miranda Wagner

Recidivism in the United States is extremely high, with 76.6% of formerly incarcerated people returning to prison. Mass incarceration is a system that locks people not only behind bars but also behind virtual bars and virtual walls. The stigma attached to spending time in prison is evident in the limitations that formerly incarcerated people face in trying to gain employment, procure federal assistance, or find housing. Research has shown that social workers and social programs play an essential role in reducing recidivism and mass incarceration. I found that social workers can play an essential role in those formerly incarcerated people’s lives, starting in prison and continuing as they reenter society. They can do this by providing mental health care services, services for families, educational and vocational opportunities, and much more. Their critical work can reduce recidivism and provide formerly incarcerated people and their families a path to a successful life outside the criminal justice system. There are also social programs outside of the criminal justice system that can profoundly impact these people’s lives. In Wisconsin, a non-profit organization called Just Dane has seen growth and success for those who come through their doors. Their recidivism rate ranges from 9-15% compared to the state average of 67%. Investing in social programs, social workers, and other reforms can make a difference in reducing recidivism and mass incarceration.

Title: America’s Reckless Food Regime: Investigating the Past, Present, and Future of Food Waste in the United States
Student: Grace Poletti
Faculty Advisor: Erica Hannickel

Poster

Abstract
America’s Reckless Food Regime: Investigating the Past, Present, and Future of Food Waste in the United States
Grace Poletti

Wasting food seems to be a part of most modern Americans’ daily lives. Not only do the individuals contribute to food waste, but also the impacts of food waste shape individual lives. In the U.S., a staggering 34% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by food waste rotting under anaerobic conditions in landfills. When food waste decomposes without access to oxygen, it creates methane which warms Earth’s atmosphere faster than carbon dioxide. Food waste is a growing issue with serious environmental consequences, such as resource depletion and global warming. Yet, this wasteful phenomenon is not new or unique to America. Food waste is a problem worldwide, although how and where food is wasted depends upon the wealth and industrialization of a nation. Food waste in America happens throughout the supply chain, most prominently at the production and consumption stages. America’s economic system of capitalistic growth has allowed for materials to be wasted in the name of profit and efficiency throughout the history of the nation. Investigating how the massive issue of food waste came to be in our country, I examine agricultural history, governmental food waste reports, and potential solutions to the growing amount of food waste. Throughout my research, I found that food waste has increased by 10% in the U.S. from the mid-1970s to the 2010s. Capitalism has created a food waste regime in the United States by exploiting foodways, food sources, and nature as a means of commodification and profit, thus creating an inherently wasteful food system.

Title: Sustaining Community Networks
Student: Jonah Evans
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Foster

Poster

Abstract
Sustaining Community Networks
Jonah Evans

Many small communities in the Midwest struggle with food security and lack the support needed to sustain community resources. The lack of support creates division in accessibility to these resources, which impacts the overall health and sustainability of these communities. This divide corrodes human interaction, social capital, and support networks in these areas. Communities coming together on these issues on a small scale doesn’t solve these significant issues but rather has the ability to propel communities in a direction of action and support. This project focused on gathering data about how community support networks are formed as well as how they are sustained. The methods used in this study are interviews and qualitative coding. Semi structured interviews were used for gathering information about how community support networks form and are situated. The information gathered was analyzed through comparative data analysis and axial coding. This study concluded that through interaction, new relationships and networks can form, contributing to a community network of support. What can truly make these community support networks sustainable is consistency, time, and effort. By being involved in community support networks through participation and giving them time, longevity and sustainability can follow, thus providing a route for combating local issues.

Title: History and Geographic Location in the Russian Arctic
Student: Rowan Goldman
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Foster

Posters

Abstract
History and Geographic Location in the Russian Arctic
Rowan Goldman

Murmansk and Norilsk are two of the largest cities in the Arctic. As such, they both face a multitude of various issues, adaptations, and histories that are incredibly distinct from other locations despite experiencing similar issues related to climate change.To achieve sustainable development in the Arctic, it is essential to take into account an area’s history and location when making proposals or trying to implement change.This research focuses on the history, geographic location (inland vs. coastal), and other issues present in the Arctic to determine how these factors can be taken into consideration in the future sustainable development of these cities. Through content analysis of existing literature on the impact of historical events on community capital in these two cities, it was found that there are similarities in human capital, some similarities in built capital, but differences in natural capital. Norilsk serves as a monocity, while Murmansk has multiple sectors. As such, the research suggests that it would be easier to implement sustainable development strategies in Murmansk due to more variation in the industries there. Potential sustainable development strategies in Norilsk center around human capital, due to knowledge on infrastructure development. Since Murmansk has more flexibility in sustainable development, potential approaches can be centered on any to the community capital types.

Title: Critiquing US Housing First Policy Through Feminist Theory: Lessons From Finland
Student: Shae O’Brien
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Foster

Poster

Abstract
Critiquing US Housing First Policy Through Feminist Theory: Lessons From Finland
Shae O’Brien

Housing First, a policy that focuses on homeless groups with specific needs and provides unconditional housing support to them, was first developed in the US in 1992. However, after steady declines from 2010 to 2016, homelessness in America has been rising, and more individuals are experiencing it in unsheltered settings, such as encampments. The Finnish government officially adopted Housing First in 2008. During the program period, long-term homelessness decreased by 35%. While both the United States and Finland use Housing First as the national strategic plan to address homelessness, the policies are based in very different social and economic systems. Using feminist theory, this research includes a critical discourse analysis of the two policies to understand underlying assumptions and their effectiveness. Feminist theory does not solely focus on the struggles of women, but rather how dominant power structures like Patriarchy, Racism, and Capitalism overlap and all contribute to the marginalization of many groups of people, including those who experience homelessness. Therefore, when considering Sustainable Community Development values of “striking a balance between environmental concerns and development objectives, while simultaneously enhancing local social relationships; sustainable communities not only protect and enhance the environment, but they also promote more humane local societies,” we must consider feminist framework to form truly just policies. Findings suggest that Finland’s version of the Housing First policy better incorporates feminist values of diversity, equity, and inclusion which contributes to its overall effectiveness. The paper concludes that we must have a true understanding of feminist theory, and representative social and economic systems to guide our policy and decision-making processes in the future, and proposes the need for further research towards ways in which communities can transition to alternative systems in order to make policies like Housing First truly effective in the US.

Title: The Comprehensive Plan for Madeline Island
Student: Ming Robinson, Emily Cardenas, Rowan Goldman, Audrey Long, Nadia May, Grace Smathers, Aislinn Steiner, Trent Wiesner
Faculty Advisor: Brian Tochterman  & Nicole Foster

Posters

Abstract
The Comprehensive Plan for Madeline Island
Ming Robinson, Emily Cardenas, Rowan Goldman, Audrey Long, Nadia May, Grace Smathers, Aislinn Steiner, Trent Wiesner

According to the state of Wisconsin’s comprehensive plan law, every 10-25 years communities are required to update and maintain their comprehensive plans. The Town of La Pointe formed a planning committee with the requirements to “adopt written procedures that are designed to foster public participation, including open discussion, communication programs, information services, and public meetings for which advance notice has been provided, in every stage of the preparation of a comprehensive plan.” In May 2022 the committee, via the Town Board, hired Northland College’s Center for Rural Communities (CRC) as consultants to develop a community survey for full-time and seasonal residents alike. The survey would shape the succeeding phases of the planning process as well as the direction of the plan itself. Key initial findings would determine the themes of the three focus groups or public forums the consultants agreed to facilitate later in the summer. With weighted and qualitative prompts the survey organization seized on several focus areas: Quality of Life, Housing, Business Activities and Services, Sustainability and Resilience, Cultural Life, Land Use, Transportation, and Intergovernmental Relations and Civic Engagement. Based on these responses, the Town of La Pointe requested that the Sustainable Development Studio course propose and research a variety of action items in the areas of Quality of Life, Economic Vitality, Community Resources and Partnerships. In the end our recommendations range from improving health care, building a bike trail, creating a community garden, forming an island council, supporting a charter school and facilitating a community center.

Title: Invisible Creativity: Why Dominant Industry Cluster Methods are Problematic in the Rural Context
Student: Grace Smathers
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Foster

Poster

Abstract
Invisible Creativity: Why Dominant Industry Cluster Methods are Problematic in the Rural Context
Grace Smathers

Creative and knowledge-based industries have recently emerged as an important community economic development strategy as these businesses and networks also generate cultural and social value to their communities. This strategy has been largely explored in urban contexts, but there is a lack of research on rural creative economies. One challenge is that traditional industry cluster methods aren’t appropriate for rural areas. This research aims to highlight the pockets of creativity that exist in rural Chequamegon Bay, even though conventional methods suggest that this creativity does not exist. Through manual data collection, using Google, Facebook, local artist groups, and word of mouth over one hundred creative businesses around the Chequamegon Bay were identified. With the creation of a Creative Economic Networks geodatabase, which cataloged businesses, addresses, and their creative category (fine art, printing, jewelry, etc.), this data was mapped geospatially to identify some potential “clusters” in the three towns along the Bay- Ashland, Washburn, and Bayfield. Creating visibility for these producers and businesses will be key in policy development for business support and other initiatives to help creativity thrive in spaces where it historically has not, and ultimately has the potential to improve social and cultural capital as well as overall quality of life for the members and visitors of these communities.

Title: How to Improve Rural Public Transportation: Learning from BART
Student: Trent Wiesner
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Foster

Poster

Abstract
How to Improve Rural Public Transportation: Learning from BART
Trent Wiesner

Ashland is home to the Bay Area Rural Transit Commission (BART), which runs local, fixed-route bus routes across Northwestern Wisconsin. For those who do not own a car or are otherwise unable to drive, such as the elderly and the disabled, BART is a lifeline to jobs and recreation. Not only this, but public transportation anywhere is extremely beneficial to the environment, since it ideally means fewer cars on the road.

However, BART is one of the 200 least efficient transit systems in the country measured by passenger trips per revenue-hour (Cities Today, 2021). Ridership must be improved by attracting new riders as well as improving the experience of existing riders. However, research on rural public transit is extremely limited.

To determine how to improve BART, this research uses grounded theory and a combination of content analysis and surveys. Perspectives of BART riders and non-riders alike were compared to the results of other studies on rural and urban public transport. Current BART infrastructure and documents were also analyzed in order to ascertain their quality and corroborate survey responses.